A father of two young daughters has died in what has been described by eyewitnesses as a horrific accident at Extreme Air Park, a trampoline facility, in Richmond Saturday evening.
According to witnesses, Jay Greenwood, a Victoria-based contractor, was jumping from an elevated trampoline into a foam pit and broke his neck.
His death prompted serious questions among eyewitnesses about safety at the facility.
Greenwood’s co-worker Matthew Ball told the News he was saddened to hear of Greenwood’s death.
“That guy's put so much food on my family’s table. He had a heart of gold. He was one of those guys who took the salt out of you,” said Ball, who was told of Greenwood’s death by Greenwood’s sister Adrienne Greenwood who confirmed her brother’s death in a Facebook post.
BC Emergency Health Services confirmed it took one man in critical condition from Extreme Air Park to an area hospital Saturday evening. To date, the BC Coroners Service has not been able to confirm a death occurred.
Richmond RCMP confirmed it attended an incident at a “leisure facility” in the 14000-block of Triangle Road where a 46-year-old man died of serious injury and cardiac arrest.
Witness Charlie Bouzakis stated on Facebook that his children are dealing with having to witness an “unbelievable, horrible” event. And, he and others are questioning the response of staff at the facility, located on Triangle Road.
“Staff had no idea what to do and I called 911,” claimed eyewitness Karm Layegh on Facebook.
The News has contacted the company for comment but no one has responded. A man named Austin Dremeneau replied online to Bouzakis, appearing to speak on behalf of Extreme Air Park and claiming medical emergency protocol was followed.
But whatever that protocol may be, several witnesses claim it was insufficient.
“What I am questioning is did the man have a fighting chance after his injury? Was there proper protocol in place prior and enough qualified staff on duty to execute that action that needed to be done in this case?” stated Bouzakis on Facebook.
Bouzakis said there were three young workers at the facility at the time of the accident; no one appeared to display first aid qualifications nor did they attend to the lifeless body. Dremeneau said protocol is not to move a body with such severe injuries.
Tracey Trowborst, a Ladner resident, told the News her children were traumatized by the event and she said there doesn’t appear to be enough supervision at the facility.
The News has contacted the Minister of Public Safety and Vancouver Coastal Health to determine what sort of protocols and safety regulations are required at such facilities.
Past media reports from Ontario media claim such facilities are unregulated. U.S. media have reported similar lack of regulations.
Extreme Air Park asks customers to sign a waiver acknowledging risks.
